Southern Moderate African American Issues

Posts Tagged ‘Yates’

The Georgia Governor’s race is a long shot for Democrats but it could be a win if they play their cards right. A win can come only if a great candidate with tons of personality builds a statewide coalition. The required buzz words are platform, energy, message, network, freshness and resourcefulness.

I like the fact that the early mentioned names are women: former interim U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, State House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams and Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson. All candidates should commit now to stealing a play from Trump’s playbook rather than Bernie Sanders. “I, state your name, agree to 100% back the winner of the primary and to encourage my team and financial supporters to do the same…so, help me God…really, help me God.”

How many Georgia Republicans wanted Trump to be the nominee? They knew most of the folks on that stage would be a better president but after he stole that nom, they fell in line. Hats off to the Republicans who never did and still haven’t to this day.

At first glance, what one key thing comes to mind from the abovementioned candidates? Yates stood up to Trump like a boss regarding the legality of his travel ban and that fact could net millions in campaign contributions from sea to shining sea.

Democrats have been losing statewide elections for the last twenty years because they wouldn’t use my formula: G.R.= .25% MM Ok, that’s not a real formula and I have been watching the Einstein based Nat Geo show Genius. But to me, Grassroots should be 25% of the media money because pouring T.V. ads on the people doesn’t help anyone except the people who sell ad buys.

Leader Abrams seems to be about grassroots and getting all Georgians engaged in the public policy process. If you noticed, I didn’t say “voting” alone because it involves being a well-informed citizen who watches local, state and national policy and politics constantly…as if your life depended on it. Look, your life depends on it because it’s a network that stops in the White House.

Mayors, City Council members, School board members and County Commissioners are the building blocks for state legislators. State legislators are the building blocks for congressmen, who are the building blocks for Governors, U.S. Senators and other statewide races. Those statewide winners are the building blocks for the Presidency. As they say at Albany State University, you can’t bulid a chimney from the top.

Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson’s key thing is positive energy. Various groups in that city just like her; she is a coalition builder and to me, she seems to bring that Obama, Bill Clinton, Sanford Bishop “You can’t dislike me” vibe. That vibe could go a long way in bringing disenchanted citizens to the polls and presenting Georgia as a state ready to do business.

If Obama and Clinton couldn’t win Georgia, how can someone else? One word: Trump. Every Republican candidate will be required to explain why they feel Trump is right for America and Georgia. Every election in November 2018 will be a referendum on Trump and his supporters. It’s about who wants to bring people together to find real solutions or who wins by dividing people with fear and ugliness. Look, my conservative friends are generally good people; my liberal friends are good as well. But, the sensible center should stand up and take our seat at the table.

In the rural South, the far Right conservatives and the far Left progressives both ignore rural Black moderates. You can’t win Georgia without rural Black voters in 20 areas south of a line from Columbus to Augusta. Team Hillary blew us off and did the same in Florida and North Carolina.

Readers of this blog know I hedged by bets by being a Democrat who voted in the Republican presidential primary for Ohio governor John Kasich. Yes, I wanted Hillary but just in case… To my friends, I am Nostradamus because I told them so like Chicken Little…”the polls are falling….the polls are falling.” If they knew Trump could have actually won, they would have helped somebody…ok, anybody.. else be the GOP nom to hedge their bets.

Rural moderates have had it with being ignored by the state and national Democrats. Remember, rural Blacks are the southern Dem base… act like you know that when you spend all of your energy begging Dixiecrats to come back. Dixiecrats can be replaced at the Democrat table by reasonable suburbanites and rural Blacks who don’t vote. My friends and I can light a fire under those disinterested voters; people who voted for Obama and nothing else.

We need to spend the next 12 months building a rural network based on proven local trendsetters. Also, we need “real” congressional candidates in every district under and on that Columbus to Augusta line…building blocks. Finally, take it to the people like Sanders did. The old leaders are primarily interested in keeping power but who can rock a mic like Obama, who is next?